1964 Jeep Wagoneer

The Jeep Wagoneer debuted in 1962 and is considered to be the father of the SUV. It replaced the Willys Jeep station wagon and was the first vehicle of its kind to have car like manners, station wagon utility and off road capability all rolled into one. Competition, such as International Harvester, Land Rover, GM and others were producing similar cars but their road manners where truck like, their styling unappealing and their interior spartan. The Wagoneer changed that forever.

Development of the Wagoneer began in the early 1960s by famed industrial designer, Brooks Stevens (he also designed Studebaker Wagonaire, a utility station wagon that debuted in 1963.) Development costs were approximately $20 million, an investment that paid off. considering the road model was in continuous production, under four different suitors, from 1961 to 1991. Only the VW Beetle was in production longer.

Early Wagoneers were powered by a straight 6, overhead cam engine delivering 130 horsepower. A 3 speed column shift transmission was standard. The Wagoneer was a sales success and by 1965, A V8 engine was available and a second model called the Super Wagoneer debuted. The Super Wagoneer had standard features that were unheard of, push-button radio, seven positioning tilt steering wheel, ceiling courtesy lights, air conditioning, power tailgate, power brakes, power steering and console shift transmission. Management continued to move the model upscale throughout the years, culminating in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, an ultra plush SUV with beautiful grain siding.

The Jeep is an original mileage, untouched survivor. It was living in a barn in Pennsylvania barn for 30 years and was brought to California by its current owner in 2014.